3.11.7
Liberation Theology
Liberation Theology
Liberation Theology
Liberation theology emerged in Latin America in the second half of the 20th century. The competition between capitalism and communism was played out, often violently, in the states of Latin America.
Social sin > personal sin
Social sin > personal sin
- One of the key components of liberation theology is to focus on social sin rather than just personal sin.
- That is, to see sin not just as a matter of personal behaviour but also the behaviour of a society.
Exploitation of workers
Exploitation of workers
- Using a Marxist analysis of capitalism, liberation theology argues that workers are alienated and so exploited. It argues that a capitalist system sacrifices the needs of the many for the benefit of the few.
- This social sin results in poverty for many people and creates a society where violence and injustice thrive as a result of the structure of that society.
Criticism: capitalist institutions
Criticism: capitalist institutions
- The theory argues that any institution that supports this structure should be criticised for enabling the exploitation of the poor.
- This includes governments that focus on creating tax systems that benefit corporations and schools that focus on training people to be effective economic workers.
- Liberation theology also criticises the church for quietly condoning and not challenging this injustice through its encouragement of people to be obedient and peaceful.
Câmara on the church
Câmara on the church
- As Dom Hélder Câmara said, ‘When I give food to the poor they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.’
- Câmara’s point is to argue that the church only focussed on the ‘saintly’ business of feeding the poor when it ought to have been challenging the injustices that created such poverty.
- In turn, schools should not just inform the next generation but teach people how to interpret and reform power structures in society
The ‘Preferential Option for the Poor’
The ‘Preferential Option for the Poor’
The ‘preferential option for the poor’ was a phrase used by liberation theologians to point out what they saw as a key theme in the teachings of Jesus - that of concern for the poor and the outcast.
Parable of the Sheep & Goats
Parable of the Sheep & Goats
- As the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats puts it, ‘whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)
- This idea is important because it helps liberation theology to combat the charge that it relies too heavily on an atheistic analysis (Marxism).
Parables: concern for the poor
Parables: concern for the poor
- Other examples of this idea in the Gospel are found in:
- The Song of Mary – ‘he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away’ (Luke 1:46-55)
- The Beatitudes – ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ (Matthew 5)
- Jesus quoting Isaiah – ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.’ (Luke 4:18-19)
Prioritise the needs of the poor
Prioritise the needs of the poor
- So liberation theology argues that Christians must put the needs of the poor before the needs of others.
- They must act to change the situation and bring poverty and injustice to an end, not just by providing for the poor, but by challenging the societal structures that cause poverty.
Orthopraxy > orthodoxy
Orthopraxy > orthodoxy
- In this way, liberation theology argues that acting justly to help the poor is the key priority for Christians.
- This right action (orthopraxy) is prioritised over right thinking/right belief (orthodoxy).
Tradition vs liberation theology
Tradition vs liberation theology
- The traditional model is to be trained in official Church teaching and then translate this into action (orthodoxy leading to orthopraxy).
- But liberation theology argues that theology should begin with the reality of people’s lives and seeking to act justly. So orthopraxy comes first and, from this, orthodoxy will emerge.
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
Jump to other topics
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
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